Thunder fall as Banuelos continues working way back from Tommy John

TRENTON — For pitcher Manny Banuelos, the road back from Tommy John surgery is starting to take shape.

Banuelos made his second start for the Thunder Sunday afternoon, and although they lost, 5-3, to the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Banuelos left feeling good about his arm.

“I feel good. I feel happy,” the 23-year-old lefty said after throwing 58 pitches in a start that lasted into the fourth inning. “My arm feels real good. That’s always the first concern.”

Banuelos wasn’t as sharp as he was in his first start with the Thunder a week ago when he struck out four in three innings against New Hampshire.

Although he touched the mid-90s with his fastball, he labored a bit, throwing just 35 of his 58 pitches for strikes.

He allowed two runs — on a two-run homer off the bat of Mario Lisson in the first — struck out three, walked one and hit a batter. He was pulled after issuing a four-pitch walk to leadoff the fourth.

“He just didn’t quite have that rhythm today,” manager Tony Franklin said. “There were some signs today though that he threw some pretty good breaking balls. He wasn’t as sharp this time, but he’ll be back out there in five days.”

Banuelos missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and is working his way back through the Yankees’ system. He reached Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2012 before needing surgery.

In five starts with Single-A Tampa, Banuelos had a 2.84 ERA, although that came in a limited sample size since he only threw 12 2/3 innings.

Franklin said he isn’t sure how long Banuelos will remain with the Thunder.

“He’s going to be with for as long as (the Yankees) think he needs to be here,” Franklin said. “I think that’s just fine the way it is. There’s no sense in rushing him back. When they think he’s ready to pitch in the big leagues, he’ll go there because he’s a major league pitcher.”

Banuelos, through a translator, indicated that he feels ready to throw more in his next start.

“Maybe next time I pitch more,” Banuelos said. “Right now I have a pitch count so that’s what I’m doing.”

Lisson did most of the damage against Thunder pitchers for Richmond (16-12), which salvaged the final game of this three-game set.

The designated hitter went 2-for-2, clubbing a pair of homers and driving in four runs. His two-run shot off Banuelos in the first gave the Squirrels an early lead while his seventh-inning blast off Manny Bareda provided an insurance tally.

Top prospect Gary Sanchez brought the Thunder (19-11) within 4-3 in the sixth when he launched a solo home run over the batter’s eye in center field.

Although a strong wind was blowing out all afternoon, Sanchez’s homer — his fourth — was a no-doubter.

“That was a pretty good poke,” Franklin said. “The kids got some power. It’s on display right now for everyone to see.”

But for the most part, the Thunder bats couldn’t get anything going against starter Ty Blach and relievers Edwin Quirarte and Derek Law.

Blach (2-1) went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out three.

Cole Kimball (0-2) took the loss after giving up a pair of runs in the fifth. Trenton had come back to tie the game at two by scratching out a pair of runs in the home second against Blach.

“Even though they’re young, you have to give them a breather every now and then,” Franklin said. “They’ve been playing well and we’ve been playing well, but it was a quick turnaround today. I thought it was time to give them a day off.”

Webb, 23, was the Yankees’ 10th-round selection in the 2013 Draft out of the University of South Carolina. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound southpaw made eight appearances (four saves) with a 2.77 ERA for Tampa. In the 13 innings of work, he struck out 17.

To make room for Webb, right-handed pitcher Charley Short was released. Short was 1-2 with an 8.53 ERA in seven appearances for the Thunder.

Webb was not in Trenton Sunday, but will join up with the team for its road trip beginning Monday at New Britain.